Wash-boiler



UNITED STATES ATENT err cs.

WASH-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,650, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed March 4, 1886.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM H. TUrrLaof the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in WashBoilers; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of washboilers in which 'a circulation of water and steam is obtained by means of vertical tubes; and my invention consists in the combination of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to provide a wash-boiler in which the circulation of water and steam shall be general and perfect.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my wash-boiler. Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower diaphragm and the tubes secured thereto.

A is the outer casingor shell of the boiler, made in the usual manner and provided with a suitable cover.

B is the lower diaphragm or perforated ehamber,'which rests within the bottom of the casing A. It consists of a perforated top plate and an encircling do\vnwardly-projecting perforated flange, 1), upon which it rests, thus leaving a chamber, 1), underneath. Secured to the diaphragm B are the tubes or pipes C. There should preferably be four of these-one at each end, and one at each side. They are made upwardly tapering, and their lower ends are in full communication with the chamber 1) of the diaphragm, to which they are secured. About half-way up the tubes 0 are provided with openings or ports '0 on their inner sides, and at their tops are made ports 0', opening inwardly, and made by cutting away a portion of the side and top, leaving the outer portion, 0 of the top for a purpose I shall presently explain. 7

D is asecond hollow diaphragm, perforated both top and bottom over its entire surface. It is provided with holes (I, by which itfits over the tubes 0, and in the inner walls of these holes are made openings or ports, (1, which, when the diaphragm is in position, communicate with the ports a of the tubes. In order to prevent the diaphragm D from bind-v Serial No. 194,076. 4N0 model.)

ing upon the tapering tubes, it is supported exactly in proper position by small lugs c, secured to the outer sides of the tubes 0; and it may therefore be readily lifted off, handles d. being provided for the purpose.

E is the upper hollow diaphragm. This is perforated only on its lower surface, and it has holes 6, into which the tops of the tubes 0 fit, whereby they support said diaphragm, and their top ports. 0, communicate with its interior. Within the chamber E are arranged slide-catches e, which are operated by handles e" on top, and are adapted to engage the tops c of the tubes. \Vhen thus engaged, it will be seen that all the diaphragms and the tubes 0 are connected, and the whole may be lifted out of the casing A.

WVhen disconnected, the top diaphragm may be removed from the tubes, then the middle one, and finally the tubes and lower one may be removed.

All the diaphragms snugly fit the casing A, having an area just enough smaller than the casing to fit it nicely and still permit their ready removal.

.By having four tubes, 0, arranged as described the diaphragms are given a steady support, and are not liable to rock from side to side. The combined capacity of the ports in the tubes is about equal to the capacity of said tubes, whereby a circulation throughout their extent is insured.

'Theoperation of the boiler is as follows: The casing A being supplied with the proper amount of water, the bottom diaphragm and tubes are placed into it, and clothes are then placed upon the diaphragm up to the height of the second diaphragm. This latter is then fitted upon the tubes, thus confining the clothes between it and the lower diaphragm. More clothes are put upon the second diaphragm up to the position of the top diaphragm, which is then placed in position and secured, thus confining the clothes in a second compartment formed between it and the middlediaphragm. The cover of the casing is then puton, and the heat is applied, under the influence of which the water and steam soon begin to circulate. They pass up through the perforated surface of the lower diaphragm, and also through the tubes 0, and through ports a d into the middle hollow diaphragm, D, and down through its perforated bottom or under surface. The clothes confined between the lower and middle diaphragms are thus treated bottom and top, and a general circulation is effected throughout their entire body. The steam and water also pass up through the upper perforated surface of the middle diaphragm, and through the tubes 0, and through ports 0 0 into the upper hollow diaphragm and down through its perforated bottom, whereby the clothes in the upper compartment are similarly treated to a general circulation.

By having separate compartments for the clothes a better or more effective cleansing takes place than if the same bull: of clothes were in one compartment, as the circulation is freer.

I am aware that wash-boilers are known in which a circulation is effected by means of tubes, but in many of these the tops of the tubes simply discharge water directly, or through a small rose, upon the top of the clothes; and I also know that in some washboilers the circulating-tubes have been connected by horizontal perforated tubes; but in no boiler have I ever seen anything similar to the arrangement of complete perforated hollow diaphragms, such as I have described, which divide the boiler into separate independent compartments, through which a general circulation is effected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the outer shell or casing, of the horizontal perforated diaph ragms B and E, the vertical tubes 0, communicating at top and bottom with said diaphragms, and the removably secured perforated diaphragm D, intermediate between the diaphragms B and E, and communicating with the tubes at or near their centers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The lower diaphragm, 13, having perforated sides and upper surface and resting within the boiler just above its bottom, and

, the tubes 0, communicating at their lower ends with the space under said diaphragm, in combination with the hollow perforated removably secured diaphragm D, between the diaphragms B and E, having openings through which the tubes pass, and communicating with said tubes through ports (1, substantially as herein described.

3. The lower diaphragm, 13, having a downwardly-extending flange and a perforated upper surface, and the tubes 0, communicating at their lower ends with the space under said diaphragm, in combination with the hollow diaphragm E, perforated on its lower surface and supported by and communicating with the tops of the tubes, and the intervening removabl y secured hollow perforated diaphragm D,having openings (Z, through which the tubes pass, and supported by and communicating with said tubes, substantially as herein described.

4. In a wash-boiler, the' lower diaphragm, B, perforated on its upper surface and resting within the boiler just above its bottom, and the tubes 0, connected with the diaphragm and communicating at their lower ends with the space under said diaphragm, said tubes having inwardly-opening ports 0 and ports 0' at their tops 0", and lugs c"on their outer sides, in combination with the hollow diaphragm 1), having a perforated top and bottom, and having holes (I, for fitting over the tubes 0, and ports (1, for communicating with ports 0, said diaphragm resting on lugs 0 and the hollow diaphragm E, perforated on its under surface,

and having holes 0, for fitting on the tops of tubes C, and communicating with their top ports, 0, and slides e, for securing it to the tubes, substantially as herein described.

5. The wash-boiler comprising the shell or casing A, the lower diaphragm, B, having a perforated upper surface and perforated flange b, on which it rests on the bottom of the casing, the tubes 0, connected with the diaphragm 15, and communicating with the space under it, the hollow diaphragm D, having a perforated top and bottom, said diaphragm being fitted and removabl y supported on the tubes and communicating through ports therewith, and the hollow diaphragm 1G, perforated on its lower surface, said diaphragm being fitted on and communicating with the tops of the tubes, all arranged and constructed substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ll [RAM H. 'l UTTLE.

lVitnesses:

C. D. COLE, J. H. Emma 

